Exosomes derived from reticulocytes infected with Plasmodium sp., method for obtaining them and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention belongs to the field of vaccines for the prevention and prophylaxis against malaria, more specifically it relates to exosomes isolated from reticulocytes infected with  Plasmodium  sp., to methods for obtaining them and to the use thereof for the prevention and prophylaxis against malaria as well as to its use for the discovery and identification of novel  Plasmodium  antigens. The invention also refers to artificial exosomes comprising  Plasmodium  sp. antigens. Finally, the invention refers to specific antigens discovered by means of the exosomes obtained from reticulocytes infected with  Plasmodium  sp.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a §371 national stage of PCT InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2010/070800, filed Dec. 28, 2010, claimingpriority of Spanish Patent Application No. ES P200931275, Dec. 28, 2009,the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference intothis application.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

This application incorporates-by-reference nucleotide and/or amino acidsequences which are present in the file named“120627_(—)5933_(—)84296_Substitute_Sequence_Listing_SC.txt,” which is 3kilobytes in size, and which was created Jun. 27, 2012 in the IBM-PCmachine format, having an operating system compatibility withMS-Windows, which is contained in the text file filed Jun. 27, 2012 aspart of this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of vaccines for theprevention and prophylaxis against malaria, more specifically it relatesto exosomes isolated from reticulocytes infected with Plasmodium sp., tomethods for obtaining them and to the use thereof for the prevention andprophylaxis against malaria as well as to its use for the discovery andidentification of novel Plasmodium antigens. The invention also refersto artificial exosomes comprising Plasmodium sp. antigens. Finally, theinvention refers to specific antigens discovered by means of theexosomes obtained from reticulocytes infected with Plasmodium sp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plasmodium sp. is the etiologic agent causing malaria, also known as“paludism”. There are different species within the Plasmodium genus,some of which are innocuous. Other species, on the contrary, are highlyinfectious and are the cause of most of the human malaria casesworldwide. Among the latter, the most important species are P.falciparum, and P. vivax.

All the human Plasmodium species (P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae,P. ovale, P. knowlesi) infect, to a greater or lesser extent,erythrocytes and/or the precursors thereof, reticulocytes, which requirea process of maturation and differentiation to reach their finalfunctional state as erythrocytes. Among the different Plasmodiumspecies, there are some which have a higher reticulocyte infectioncapacity than others, such as Plasmodium vivax for example, whichpredominantly infects cells of this type.

During the process of maturation and differentiation of reticulocytesinto erythrocytes, some proteins, which are not necessary for thelatter, are sequestered in internal vesicles located in multi-vesicularbodies (MVBs) and are subsequently released into the extracellularmedium as small nano-vesicles known as exosomes.

Recently, research on exosomes has been stimulated after the discoverythat other cells, such as antigen-presenting cells, are capable ofsecreting nano-vesicles of this type, suggesting a role beyond the oneoriginally described in the maturation and differentiation ofreticulocytes. In fact, several studies with different types of cellshave revealed that exosomes play a role in the regulation of the immunesystem since they transfer information between cells during immuneresponse, and therefore, represent a new way of intercellularcommunication (1). In this line, the protective capacity of exosomes inexperimental infections with Toxoplasma gondii, a member of theApicomplexa phylum to which Plasmodium also belongs has beendemonstrated (2).

Furthermore, several strategies based on the use of exosomes asprophylactic or immunostimulating agents for humans have been described(3).

Among others, WO9705900 discloses exosomes obtained fromantigen-presenting cells such as B cells, macrophages or dendriticcells. The exosomes described in this document have the particularitythat, since they are obtained from antigen-presenting cells, theantigens are presented in the MHC-I and MHC-II context.

Document EP1523990 in turn describes exosomes obtained from cancer cells(identified as texosomes) or from dendritic cells loaded or unloadedwith antigens (this document refers to them as dexosomes).

WO2004014954 uses a different strategy since, in order to obtainexosomes showing a desired antigen in its surface, cells from the lineCT26 (murine colon cancer) and cells from the line TA3HA (mouse mammarycarcinoma) are transfected with recombinant viruses comprising in theirgenome the sequence which encodes the desired antigen (muc-1), which isthus expressed in the surface of the exosomes isolated from cells ofthis type.

WO0028001 describes exosomes obtained from mastocytes essentiallylacking endogenous MHC molecules. The exosomes described in thisdocument do express, however, recombinant MHCs in their surface.

Finally, WO2008092153 describes exosomes obtained from cancer cellswhich lack one or more immunosuppressive polypeptides normally presentin exosomes.

The authors of the present invention have now developed a new strategyin the prevention and prophylaxis of malaria based on the use ofexosomes isolated from reticulocytes of murine models or subjectsinfected with Plasmodium. These exosomes are obtained from peripheralblood infected with Plasmodium sp. or from in vitro cultures ofreticulocytes previously obtained from said peripheral blood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: it depicts the characterization of exosomes isolated from mouseplasma. (A) Size analysis by dynamic light scattering. (B) Negativestaining after fixing with 2% paraformaldehyde. The scale represents 100nm.

FIG. 2: (A) Giemsa staining of reticulocytes isolated from blood ofcontrol mice and mice infected with P. yoelii 17X. (B) EM image ofnegatively stained exosomes from reticulocytes. Scale bar represent 200nm.

FIG. 3: it depicts the evolution over time of parasitemia and theanalysis of cell tropism of mice immunized with exosomes. Theparasitemia curves were calculated from the mean of 2 non-immunizedcontrol mice, 2 control mice immunized with exosomes isolated from bloodof normal animals, 3 mice immunized with exosomes obtained from animalsinfected with the non-lethal strain of P. yoelii, and 3 mice immunizedwith exosomes obtained from animals infected with the lethal strain ofP. yoelii. Giemsa staining for peripheral blood smears on the day priorto sacrificing in a representative animal of each group.

FIG. 4: A) Survival curve and (B) time-course parasitemia, of Plamodiumyoelii 17XL infections of groups of BALB/C mice previously immunizedwith exC (n=6) and exPyNL (n=6). Non-immunized mice (n=5) wereuntreated.

FIG. 5: Western blot analysis of the response of anti-P. yoelii IgGantibodies in the serum of animals immunized with exosomes. The sampleswere collected by maxillary puncture on day 20 after the secondimmunization. Each panel corresponds to a mixture of serums of eachgroup of animals used in these experiments. In the Western blot, totalantigen obtained from the non-lethal (AgNL) and lethal (AgL) strains ofP. yoelii was used and the responses of IgG antibodies were detected bymeans of using goat serum conjugated to alkaline phosphatase andproduced against mouse IgG.

FIG. 6: it depicts an intra-cellular staining analysis of T, CD4+ andCD8+ cells in animals immunized with exosomes from blood of miceinfected with the non lethal strain of P. yoelii. Balb/c mice wereimmunized with 5 micrograms of PyNL exosomes in CpG-ODN. Two weeks afterthe first immunization, a boost with 5 micrograms of exosomes withoutCpG-ODN was performed. (A) The percentage of CD8⁺ IFN-γ⁺ was calculatedafter an in vitro re-stimulation, intracellular staining and flowcytometry analysis. The percentage of CSFE^(lo) lymphocytes that areCD4⁺ IFN-γ⁺ is represented in (B) and that of CD4⁺ IFN-γ⁺ IL-2 in (C).The data correspond to one experiment and is expressed as themean±standard error of 3 non-immunized mice and 3 mice immunized withexosomes coming from mice infected with the non-lethal exPyNL strain.

FIG. 7: Bright-field and fluorescence images of immune sera recognizinga 17XL-pRBC. NI=serum from a non-immunized mouse; exC=serum from a mouseimmunized with exosomes from a non-infected mouse REX; exPy I=serum fromtwo mice immunized with REX from a P. yoelii NL-infected animal.

FIG. 8: (A)-(D) MS/MS spectrum resulting from the proteomic analysis ofthe antigens present in exosomes derived from peripheral blood comingfrom mice infected with P. yoelli and from a patient infected with P.vivax. The bioinformatic analysis of the spectrum confirms the presenceof both P. yoelli and P. vivax antigens in the exosome samples analyzed.

FIG. 9: A) Schematic representation of the Vir multigenic familyconserved motifs. B) Schematic representation of the VirpeptideLP1(left) and Virpeptide LP2 (right).

FIG. 10: Bioplex assay showing that some sera from the endemic region ofBrazil can recognize the synthetic long peptides.

FIG. 11: Immunofluorescence assay showing that anti-Lp1 (A) and anti-Lp2(B) can identify Vir proteins of P. vivax natural infections.

FIG. 12: Image of immunogold labeled artificial exosomes comprising Lp1and Lp2 peptides as well as in their composition. The exosomes comprise1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), Cholesterol (CHOL), and4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrylphosphatidylethanolamine (MBP-PE) in a molarratio 79:20:1. Immunolabelling was performed with antibodies against LP1and LP2 Vir peptides followed by Protein A-gold incubation Scale barrepresent 200 nm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The first object of the present invention is represented by an exosomeisolated from plasma reticulocyte culture which comprises at least onePlasmodium sp. antigen in its interior or in its surface (hereafterknown as exosomes of the invention).

The exosomes of the invention have shown immunogenic capacity againstmalaria, so they have a high potential usefulness in the preparation ofa vaccine for the prevention and prophylaxis of this disease.

The antigen or antigens present in the exosomes of the present inventioncan come from any Plasmodium species. In a particular embodiment of theinvention, the antigen or antigens present in the exosomes come from P.vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. yoelli, P. achiotense,P. achromaticum, P. aegyptensis, P. aeuminatum, P. agamae, P. anasum, P.atheruri, P. azurophilum, P. balli, P. bambusicolai, P. basilisci, P.berghei, P. bigueti P. brasilianum, P. brygooi, P. booliati, P. bubalis,P. bucki, P. coatneyi, P. cathemerium, P. cephalophi, P. chabaudi, P.chiricahuae, P. circularis, P. cnemidophori, P. coatneyi, P.coggeshalli, P. colombiense, P. corradettii, P. coturnix, P. coulangesi,P. cuculus, P. pogo, P. cyclopsi, P. cynomolgi, P. diminutivum, P.diploglossi, P. dissanaikei, P. dominicana, P. durae, P. egerniae, P.elongatum, P. eylesi, P. fabesia, P. fairchildi, P. fallax, P. fieldi,P. foleyi, P. forresteri, P. floridense, P. fragile, P. garnhami, P.gallinaceum, P. giganteum, P. giovannolai, P. girardi, P. gonatodi, P.gonderi, P. georgesi, P. gracilis, P. griffithsi, P. guanggong, P.gundersi, P. guyannense, P. heischi, P. hegneri, P. hermani, P.heteronucleare, P. hexamerium, P. holaspi, P. huffi, P. hylobati, P.icipeensis, P. inopinatum, P. inui, P. jefferi, P. josephinae, P.juxtanucleare, P. kempi, P. knowlesi, P. kentropyxi, P. leanucteus, P.lemuris, P. lophurae, P. lepidoptiformis, P. lygosomae, P. mabuiae, P.mackerrasae, P. maculilabre, P. major, P. marginaturn, P. matutinum, P.mexicanum, P. minasense, P. morulum, P. nucleophilium, P. octamerium, P.odocoilei, P. papernai, P. paranucleophilum, P. parvulum, P.pedioecetii, P. pelaezi, P. percygamhami, P. petersi, P. pifanoi, P.pinotti, P. pinorrii, P. pitheci, P. pitmani, P. polare, P. praecox, P.reichenowi, P. relictum, P. rhadinurum, P. rhodaini, P. robinsoni, P.rouxi, P. sandoshami, P. sasai, P. schweitzi, P. silvaticum, P. simium,P. semiovale, P. shortii, P. smirnovi, P. subpraecox, P. tenue, P.tejerai, P. tomodoni, P. torrealbai, P. traguli, P. tribolonoti, P.tropiduri, P. uilenbergi, P. watteni, P. wenyoni, P. vacuolatum, P,vastator, P. vaughani, P. vinckei, P. volans or P. youngi.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the exosomes compriseantigens coming from Plasmodium species which infect humans, monkeysand/or rodents, i.e., in a preferred embodiment of the invention, saidantigen or antigens present in the interior or in the surface of theexosomes belong to Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodiummalariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium yoelli, P. berghei, P.brasilianum, P. chabaudi, P. cynomolgi, P. fragile, P. knowlesi or P.reichenowi.

The exosomes of the present invention can be isolated from reticulocytesof any mammal infected with Plasmodium sp. although they are preferablyisolated from human, monkey and/or mouse reticulocytes. A preferredembodiment contemplates the use of human reticulocytes to prevent, asfar as possible, undesirable reactions when they are administered tohuman patients.

Another object of the present invention is represented by a method forobtaining the exosomes of the invention which comprises:

-   -   a) obtaining a blood sample infected with Plasmodium sp.,    -   b) optionally, isolating and culturing reticulocytes from the        blood sample of a)    -   c) obtaining the fraction of exosomes derived from reticulocytes        by means of sequential ultracentrifugation of the blood sample        from a) or b).

In a particular embodiment the blood sample can be blood infected withP. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. yoelli, P.achiotense, P. achromaticum, P. aegyptensis, P. aeuminatum, P. agamae,P. anasum, P. atheruri, P. azurophilum, P. balli, P. bambusicolai, P.basilisci, P. berghei, P. bigueti P. brasilianum, P. brygooi, P.booliati, P. bubalis, P. bucki, P. coatneyi, P. cathemerium, P.cephalophi, P. chabaudi, P. chiricahuae, P. circularis, P. cnemidophori,P. coatneyi, P. coggeshalli, P. colombiense, P. corradettii, P.coturnix, P. coulangesi, P. cuculus, P. popo, P. cyclopsi, P. cynomolgi,P. diminutivum, P. diploglossi, P. issanaikei, P. dominicana, P. durae,P. egerniae, P. elongatum, P. eylesi, P. fabesia, P. fairchildi, P.fallax, P. fieldi, P. foleyi, P. forresteri, P. floridense, P. fragile,P. garnhami, P. gallinaceum, P. giganteum, P. giovannolai, P. girardi,P. gonatodi, P. gonderi, P. georgesi, P. gracilis, P. griffithsi, P.guanggong, P. gundersi, P. guyannense, P. heischi, P. hegneri, P.hermani, P. heteronucleare, P. hexamerium, P. holaspi, P. huffi, P.hylobati, P. icipeensis, P. inopinatum, P. inui, P. jefferi, P.josephinae, P. juxtanucleare, P. kempi, P. knowlesi, P. kentropyxi, P.leanucteus, P. lemuris, P. lophurae, P. lepidoptiformis, P. lygosomae,P. mabuiae, P. mackerrasae, P. maculilabre, P. maior, P. marginatum, P.matutinum, P. mexicanum, P. minasense, P. morulum, P. nucleophilium, P.octamerium, P. odocoilei, P. papernai, P. paranucleophilum, P. parvulum,P. pedioecetii, P. pelaezi, P. percygarnhami, P. petersi, P. pifanoi, P.pinotti, P. pinorrii, P. pitheci, P. pitmani, P. polare, P. praecox, P.reichenowi, P. relictum, P. rhadinurum, P. rhodaini, P. robinsoni, P.rouxi, P. sandoshami, P. sasai, P. schweitzi, P. silvaticum, P. simium,P. semiovale, P. shortii, P. smirnovi, P. subpraecox, P. tenue, P.tejerai, P. tomodoni, P. torrealbai, P. traguli, P. tribolonoti, P.tropiduri, P. uilenbergi, P. watteni, P. wenyoni, P. vacuolatum, P.vastator, P. vaughani, P. vinckei, P. volans or P. youngi.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the blood sample isinfected with Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodiummalariae, Plasmodium ovate, Plasmodium yoelli, P. berghei, P.brasilianum, P. chabaudi, P. cynomolgi, P. fragile, P. knowlesi, P.reichenowi.

Although step b) of the method is optional it is a preferred option ofthe invention to carry it out. By performing step b) the exosomicfraction is purer in exosomes derived from reticulocytes. If step b) isnot performed, the exosomic fraction may contain small traces ofexosomes from other cellular types different from reticulocytes such as,for instance, dendritic cells.

The isolation of reticulocytes from the whole blood sample may becarried out by:

-   -   i) centrifuging at 700-1000×g for 15-25 minutes,    -   ii) centrifuging in Percoll gradient at 200-300 g for 25-35 min.

Isolation of reticulocytes in step b) can also be performed by means ofa magnetic beads system. For instance, magnetic beads can be conjugatedto anti CD71 antibodies since CD71 is a main surface marker ofreticulocytes.

After the isolation of reticulocytes, these are cultured in vitro undercommon conditions.

Step c) of the method comprises sequential ultracentrifugation stepseither from the blood sample from step a) or from the reticulocytescultured in vitro from step b).

In a particular and preferred embodiment the sequentialultracentifugation comprises:

-   -   i) centrifuging between 400-700×g for 15-25 minutes,    -   ii) centrifuging between 900-1000×g for 15-25 minutes, iii)        centrifuging between 10,000-14,000×g for 20-40 minutes,    -   iv) centrifuging between 90,000-110,000×g for 1-3 hours,    -   Optionally, after this first sequential ultracentrifugation, the        resulting pellet is suspended in a buffer solution, preferably        PBS, and filtered through a filter which discriminates the        fraction of exosomes by particle size (the filter should have a        pore size of about 0.20 μm). After this operation, it is        preferably centrifuged again at 90000-11 000×g for 1-3 hours.

The sequential centrifugation must preferably be carried out at a lowtemperature of between 0-7° C. to preserve the integrity the proteinsand the protein structures of the purified exosomes.

If the exosome are directly obtained from the whole blood, that is ifstep b) of the method is not performed, normally an exosome fractionmostly formed by exosomes derived from reticulocytes is obtained.However, this fraction can contain a minimum fraction of exosomesderived from other blood cell types.

Although the fraction obtained is sufficiently enriched in exosomesderived from reticulocytes, optionally, if an even more enrichedfraction is desired, the fraction of exosomes obtained can be subjectedto a method of purification by immunoisolation. Immunoisolation impliesthe use of specific antibodies against specific molecules ofreticulocytes present in exosomes. In a particular embodiment,immunoisolation may be performed by means of using specific antibodiesagainst the transferrin receptor.

The immunoisolation of the exosomes derived from reticulocytes may becarried out bymagnetic beads coated with antibodies against thetransferrin receptor. The exosomes derived from reticulocytes, onceattached to the magnetic beads through the anti-transferrin receptorantibodies, can be separated from the latter by means of an acidtreatment.

The analysis of the exosomes of the invention allows the discovery andidentification of the antigens of Plasmodium sp. present in theirinterior or surface as demonstrated in the examples. In this sense, itis also an object of the present invention the use of the exosomesisolated from reticulocytes infected with Plasmodium sp. for thediscovery and identification of Plasmodium sp. antigens.

One of the antigens identified in the present invention is protein Yirfrom Plasmodium yoelli which is the ortologue of protein Vir fromPlasmodium vivax. From this protein the inventors have developed two Virderived peptides which have been demonstrated to be antigenic uponimmunizations of guinea pigs and capable of eliciting specific IgGimmune responses recognizing P. vivax-infected reticulocytes frompatients.

Therefore, it is also an object of the invention the Vir derived peptidehaving SEQ ID NO 1 or at least 85% homology with SEQ ID NO 1 as well asthe Vir derived peptide having SEQ ID NO 1 or at least 85% homology withSEQ ID NO 2. These peptides have been called Lp1 and Lp2 respectively.

Another aspect of the present invention is an artificial exosomecomprising at least one Plasmodium sp antigen in its interior or in itssurface.

The artificial exosomes have been developed by known methods (de la Peñaet al. 2009) comprising the Plasmodium antigens identified, namely Lp1and Lp2, however any other Plasmodium antigen may be incorporated in theartificial exosomes formulation. The use of artificial exosomes reducesthe risk of an autoimmune response occurring in the immunized patient.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the artificial exosomes aremainly coupled to antigens from Plasmodium species which infect monkeys,mice or humans, such as for example, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodiumfalciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium yoelli, P.berghei, P. brasilianum, P. chabaudi, P, cynomolgi, P. fragile, P.knowlesi, P. reichenowi. In a preferred embodiment, the artificialexosomes comprise P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae or P. ovateantigens.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is represented by an artificialexosome comprising a Plasmodium sp. antigen comprising Vir derivedpeptide having SEQ ID NO 1 or at least 85% homology with SEQ ID NO 1and/or Vir derived peptide having SEQ ID NO 2 or at least 85% homologywith SEQ ID NO 1.

Another object of the present invention is a pharmaceutical compositioncomprising the exosomes of the invention or the artificial exosomes ofthe invention and/or the peptides of SEQ ID NO 1 and/ SEQ ID NO 2 orpeptides having at least 85% homology with SEQ ID NO 1 or SEQ ID NO 2and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

The excipients can be selected from carriers, supporting materials,lubricants, fillers, solvents, diluents, colorants, taste conditionerssuch as sugars, antioxidants and/or binders. The selection of theseauxiliary materials and/or excipients and of the amounts which must beused will depend on the form of application of the pharmaceuticalcomposition.

The pharmaceutical composition according to the invention can be adaptedto any dosage form, either by oral route or by parenteral route, forexample, by pulmonary route, by nasal route, by rectal route and/or byintravenous route. Therefore, the formulation according to the inventioncan be adapted for topical or systemic application, specifically fordermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraarticular, intraperitoneal,pulmonary, buccal, sublingual, nasal, percutaneous, vaginal, oral orparenteral application.

A final object of the present invention is a vaccine against malariacomprising exosomes of the invention or the artificial exosomes of theinvention and/or the peptides of SEQ ID NO 1 and/ SEQ ID NO 2 orpeptides having at least 85% homology with SEQ ID NO 1 or SEQ ID NO 2.

The followings examples serve to illustrate the invention but do notintend to limit the scope thereof.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Purification of Exosomes

1.1. Direct Purification from Mice Blood

The exosomes were purified from plasma obtained from mouse bloodcollected in EDTA. Plasmas of Balb/c mice infected and uninfected withthe strains P. yoelii 17X and 17XL at 10-40% parasitemia were used. Forthe isolation of the exosomes, the serums were sequentially centrifugedat 500×g for 30 min, 12000×g for 35 min and at 100000×g for 2 hours at4° C. The final precipitate was resuspended in PBS (usually 5× theoriginal volume of serum), filtered through a 0.22-μm filter andcentrifuged at 100000×g for 2 hours at 4° C. The precipitates wereresuspended in 1XPBS and the amount of proteins recovered was determinedby means of a Bradford assay. Approximately 5 micrograms of exosomes areobtained from 1.5 ml of serum. The obtained material is used immediatelyor is frozen by means of quick cooling and is stored at −80° C.

The exosomes were analyzed by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS)and electron microscopy (EM) to confirm their purity and to view theirmorphology (FIG. 1). For the DLS measurements, 50 μl of a 0.1 μg/μlsuspension in PBS at 25° C. were analyzed using a Zetasizer Nano S(Malvern Instruments). The EM analyses were conducted from fresh exosomepreparations fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde overnight at 4° C. Theexosomes were placed on formvar grids for 1 minute before being washedin distilled water. The grids were negatively stained for 1 minute witha 2% solution of uranyl acetate in distilled water. After beingcompletely dried, the grids were observed under a JEOL 1010 transmissionelectron microscope. Both techniques revealed homogenous populations ofnano-vesicles with a diameter compatible to the size previouslydescribed for exosomes.

1.2. Purification from Mice In Vitro Cultured Reticulocytes

Exosomes were purified from supernatant of a reticulocyte culture.Reticulocytes were obtained from mice blood collected in EDTA. Blood ofBalb/c mice uninfected and infected with the P. yoelii 17X strain at20-40% parasitemia was used. To isolate the reticulocytes, blood wascentrifuged at 700-1000×g for 20 min. After two washes inphosphate-buffered saline (PBS), reticulocytes from blood were purifiedby layering them on top of a Percoll/NaCl density gradient. To do so,five milliliters of Percoll solution (density, 1.096 g/mL) was placed in15 mL tubes. Two milliliters of Percoll (density, 1.058 g/mL) waslayered over this. Two ml of blood diluted in PBS to a final hematocritof 50% were layered on top of each tube. Tubes were centrifuged at 250×gfor 30 minutes at 4° C. Reticulocytes were collected from the interfaceof the two Percoll layers and washed twice with PBS.

Purified reticulocytes (FIG. 2 A) were cultured for 24 h at 37° C. inDMEM, supplemented with 5 mM glutamine, 3% calf serum, 50 U/mLpenicillin, and 50 μg/mL streptomycin at a density of 1-5×10⁷ cells/mL.To avoid any possible contamination by exogenous exosomes in the culturemedium, the fetal bovine serum was precentrifuged (100 000×g o.n.).Exosomes were isolated from the supernatant by centrifugation at 500×gfor 20 min, at 900-1000×g for 20 min, at 12 000×g for 30 minutes and at100 000×g for 2 h at 4° C. The final pellet was resuspended in a largevolume of PBS (usually 5× the original volume), filtered through a0.22-μm filter and centrifuged at 100 000×g for 2 h at 4° C. The pelletswere resuspended in PBS, and the amount of proteins recovered wasdetermined by Bradford assay.

Exosomes have been analyzed by electron microscopy (EM) in order toconfirm their purity and visualize their morphology (FIG. 2B). EManalysis was performed with fresh exosomes fixed in 2% PEA overnight at4° C. Exosomes were then deposited onto formvar grids for 20 min beforebeing washed with PBS. The grids were then fixed in glutaraldehyde 1%for 5 min, washed in distilled water and negatively stained for 5 minwith a solution of uranyl-oxalate (pH=7) and for 10 min at 4° C. withuranyl acetate (4%)-methyl cellulose (2%). After being dried thoroughly,the grids were observed with a JEOL 1010 transmission electronmicroscope. This technique revealed a homogeneous population of vesiclesin the sample with a diameter compatible with the size previouslyreported for exosomes.

1.3. Purification of Exosomes from Human In Vitro Cultured Reticulocytes

Human reticulocytes from peripheral blood were obtained from unprocessedblood bags from the Blood and Tissue Bank of Barcelona(www.bancsang.net). To obtain the samples, centrifugation was performedon Percoll density gradient following the method already described inexample 1.2. Previously the samples were depleted of leukocytes usingPlasmodipur filters (Eurodiagnostica).

In parallel to this methodology human reticulocytes were alsoconcentrated by magnetic beads conjugated with anti-CD71 (main surfacemarker of reticulocytes) using the purification system Midi-MACS(Miltenyi Biotec) and following the manufacturer's specifications. Humanreticulocytes concentrated by both methods, were maintained in differentculture media (DMEM, RPMI) for 24 h, and the human reticulocytes derivedexosomes (hREX) were concentrated from the supernatants byultracentrifugation following the methodology described in example 1.2.

1.4. Purification from Human Reticulocytes Infected with Plasmodiumvivax

Reticulocytes infected with mature forms of P. vivax were collectedusing the magnetic columns system Midi-MACS (Miltenyi Biotec) followingthe methodology described by Ribaut et al. (4). Infected reticulocyteswere washed with incomplete medium and maintained for 24 h in differentmedia (DMEM, RPMI).

Human P. vivax infected reticulocytes derived exosomes (hiREX) wereconcentrated from the supernatant by ultracentrifugation following themethodology described in example 1.3.

Example 2 Immunogenic Properties of the Exosomes

2.1. Immunogenic Properties of Exosomes Obtained by Direct Purificationfrom Mice Blood

Balb/c mice were immunized with exosomes derived from the blood ofuninfected mice (exC) and mice infected with exosomes of the non-lethal(exPyNL) and lethal (exPyL) strain as obtained in example 1.1. For theimmunizations, the mice received 5 μg intravenous (i.v.) injections ofexosomes in 100 μl of PBS after having been anesthetized with acombination of Ketamine (100 mg/Kg) and Midazolam (5 mg/Kg) injectedintraperitoneally. Two experiments with exosomes have been performedwith groups of 4-6 Balb/c mice (9-11 weeks of age) (i.v) immunized at20-day intervals with two doses of exosomes. The non-immunized (NI) micewere not treated. Twenty days after the second immunization, all themice were infected with 5×10⁵-10⁶ parasites of the lethal strain (P.yoelii 17XL) and the parasitemia was controlled daily. Outstandingly,half the mice immunized with exosomes of each strain showed differencesin the parasitemia curves with a longer survival time when compared tothe NI and exC mice (FIG. 3). Furthermore, the mice immunized withexosomes of infected animals showed not only an increase ofreticulocytemia but also a change of cell tropism of the lethal strainof normocytes for reticulocytes (Table I).

TABLE I Groups of Balb/c mice were immunized with exosomes from blood ofuninfected animals (exC, n = 4) and mice infected with Py17XL (exPyL, n= 4) and Py17XNL (exPyNL, n = 6). The non-immunized (NI) mice were nottreated. The percentage of infected reticulocytes and reticulocytemiawere measured on the day prior to death. The results of the differentgroups are expressed with mean ± standard error. Days survived after thedeath of non- % of infected immunized animals reticulocytesReticulocytemia NI 0.65 ± 0.92  0.6 ± 0.85 exC 0.5 ± 0.33 3.08 ± 1.723.02 ± 1.48 exPyL 2.5 ± 1.37 49.15 ± 21.46 30.98 ± 16.11 exPyNL 3.5 ±1.29 35.57 ± 18.66 23.68 ± 12.832.2. Immunogenic Properties of Exosomes Obtained by Purification of InVitro Cultured Reticulocytes

Balb/c mice were immunized with exosomes obtained from a culture ofreticulocytes non-infected (exC) and infected with the non-lethal P.yoelii 17X strain (exPyNL) as obtained in example 1.2. For theimmunizations, mice were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) with 10 μg ofexosomes and 10 μg of CpG ODN-1826. Twenty days after, mice wereimmunized with 5 μg of exosomes. Twenty days after the secondimmunization, all mice were infected with 5×10⁵ P. yoelii 17XL andparasitemia was followed daily. Two experiments have been performed withgroups of 6 female BALB/c mice (9-11 weeks of age) immunized. Nonimmunized mice (NI) were untreated. Remarkably, 5/6 mice immunized withexosomes from reticulocytes infected with P. yoelii 17X survived to aninfection with the lethal parasite P. yoelii 17XL (FIG. 4).

Example 3 Humoral and Cellular Response

3.1—Humoral IgG Immune Response and Cellular Immune Response Elicited byExosomes Directly Purified from Mice Blood

After demonstrating the immunogenic capacity of the exosomes purified inexample 1.1, experiments were initiated to evaluate if the protectiveresponses were associated with humoral and/or cellular immune response.

To study the production of specific antibodies, sera were collected onday 20 prior to the second immunization and were stored at −20° C. Serummixtures of the NI, exC, exPyNL and exPyL groups of animals were used toanalyze the circulating anti-P. yoelii antibodies induced by theimmunization with exosomes. Western blots were performed using a totalP. yoelii antigen lysate obtained by lysing infected erythrocytes with1.5 M NH₄CL, 0.1 M KHCO₃ and 0.01 M EDTA followed by several freezingand thawing cycles. Mice immunized with exosomes coming from non-lethalinfection produced specific IgG antibodies against P. yoelii antigens ofboth strains (FIG. 5). As expected, no antibodies against P. yoelii weredetected in the serums of non-immunized animals.

The production of cytokines of individual cells to evaluate the cellularimmune response was performed by means of intracellular staining. Twentydays after the second immunization, spleen cells (splenocytes) ofimmunized animals were seeded in triplicate on 96-well plates (5×10⁵cells/well). The splenocytes were cultured in DMEM medium supplementedwith 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) inactivated by temperature, HEPES (10mM), L-glutamine (2 mM), sodium pyruvate (1 mM), 23-mercaptoethanol (50μM), and penicillin-streptomycin (0.1 mM), and in the presence orabsence of 10 μg/ml of P. yoelii antigen or 5 μg of a frozen exosomepreparation. To analyze the proliferation, the cells were stained with5-6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) using thevybrant CFDASE cell tracer kit (Invitrogen) prior to the culture. Theplates were incubated for 72 hours at 37° C. and with phorbol myristateacetate (50 ng/ml), ionomycin (500 ng/ml) and brefeldin A (10 μg/ml) inthe last 4 hours. The cells were collected, washed and stained for 20minutes to detect different surface markers using antibodies conjugatedto different fluorophores. After two washes with PBS/BSA, the cells werefixed for 20 min at room temperature with cytofix/cytoperm (BDBiosciences) and were then washed and resuspended in a perm/washsolution which permeabilizes them. After the permeabilization, the cellswere stained for 30 minutes with specific conjugated antibodies fordifferent cytokines. The samples were analyzed in a FACS Calibur. Thevisual examination of the color and amount of cells in the wells after72 hours of culture revealed a higher proliferative response in exPyNLsplenocytes only in the presence of exosomes and of P. yoelii antigen.The number of CD8⁺ T splenocytes which produced IFN-γ increased inanimals immunized with exPyNL, and after restimulation, with exosomesand total P. yoelii antigen (FIG. 6A). CD4⁺ proliferative T Cells (CSFElow) which produce IFN-γ, alone or in combination with IL-2, aredetected in a higher number in the same group of animals after therestimulation with total P. yoelii antigen and exosomes (FIG. 6B, 6C).

3.2. Humoral IgG Immune Response Elicited by Exosomes Purified from InVitro Cultured Reticulocytes

This example shows that exosomes purified in example 1.2 are capable ofeliciting parasite-specific humoral IgG immune responses recognizingmature stages of P. yoelii-infected red blood cells (pRBCs).

Humoral IgG immune response elicited by exosomes was studied byimmunofluorescence using sera from immunized mice collected 20 daysafter immunization and tested for parasite recognition.Immunofluorescence assays were performed on 17XL infected blood smearsfixed with cold methanol and air-dried before blocking with 5% BSA/PBSfor 30 min at RT. Slides were incubated with mouse sera diluted 1/10 in0.5% BSA/PBS o.n. at 4° C. and for 1 h at RT. Reacting IgG were detectedusing an anti-Mouse IgG antibody conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488(Invitrogen) diluted 1/200 for 1 h at RT. After washing, nuclei werestained with DAPI (Invitrogen, 5 mg/mL) at RT for 7 min. Serarecognizing pRBCs were imaged for bright-field and green fluorescenceusing a Leica TCS-SL microscope fitted with an inverted 63× oilobjective. Sera from non-immunized mice and from mice immunized withexosomes from uninfected animals were used as negative controls. Asshown in FIG. 7, immunizations with exPy elicited IgG antibodies capableof recognizing infected red blood cells.

Example 4 Proteomic Analysis of the Antigens

In addition to generating data on the immunogenicity of exosomes inexperimental infections of malaria using the murine model of Balb/c—P.yoelii, data which demonstrate that the exosomes obtained from miceinfected with P. yoelii or exosomes obtained from a patient with P.vivax contains antigens of the parasite have also been generated. Tothat end, 5 microgram aliquots of purified exosomes of uninfected mice,mice infected with the lethal and non-lethal strain of P. yoelii, ahealthy human volunteer and a patient with P. vivax malaria, wereanalyzed by mass spectrometry.

4.1. Analysis by Mass Spectrometry Coupled to Liquid Chromatography.

The exosome preparations were resuspended in 0.4 M NH₄HCO₃ in 8M urea.The samples were reduced with 5 mM DTT for 15 minutes at 50° C.,alkylated with 10 mM iodoacetamide for 30 minutes at room temperatureand diluted with HPLC grade water until obtaining a urea concentrationof 1 M. After digesting for 16 hours with trypsin having a sequencingpurity of 1/50 (enzyme/protein ratio), the reaction was ended by adding1% formic acid (FA) (5). The samples were desalinated with POROS R2ziptips (6) and were dried in an vacuum pump. The samples weresubsequently resuspended in 0.1% FA (secured to a 2D LC-MS system(LC—Eksigent 1D-plus, MS—Thermo Fisher LTC) XL with ETD, ESIsource—Triversa, Adivion). The samples were individually placed in astrong cation exchange (SCX) column (5 μL, Optimized Technologies), andautomatically eluted by means of injecting increasing concentrations ofNaCl (0-500 mM NaCl in 5% acetonitrile/0.5% FA). The eluted peptideswere trapped and washed in a homemade C18 column (1 cm, 75 μm,Phenomenex Luna C18, 5 μm). The separation was achieved by means of aC18 capillary column (20 cm, 75 μm, Phenomenex Luna C18, 5 μm) in alinear gradient of ACN with 0.1% FA. The spectra were collected in thedata-dependent acquisition mode (FIG. 8).

4.2. Bioinformatic Analysis

The MS/MS spectra (FIG. 5) were converted to DTA format and send to adatabase search using Sequest (Available in Bioworks 3.3.1, ThermoFisher Scientific). The databases used for P. vivax and P. yoelii werethose most recently released in PLasmoDB (http://plasmodb.org), andthose of contaminating sequences such as human keratin, porcine trypsin,culture medium proteins were searched in(http://www.ebi.ac.uk/IPI/IPIhelp.html orhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=Protein&itool=toolbar). Allthe sequences were concatenated to the reverse version to allowcalculating false positives (7). The data obtained were filtered toobtain a false positives error level of approximately 1-2%.

Outstandingly, exosomes obtained from infected mice or from the patientwith P. vivax revealed the presence of Plasmodium proteins (Table II).The data of the individual spectra validated by 100% that these peptidescorrespond to Plasmodium proteins.

All these results unequivocally demonstrate that the exosomes containproteins of the parasite which causes malaria, including human malariacaused by P. vivax, and that they are capable of presenting antigen,generating immune and protective responses in a murine model.

TABLE II Total Total number number of of xcorr Peptide Accessionnumber/description peptide spectra sum probability tgr_PY00291product_SERA_3_location_MALPY00082_1581_5430 + _length_1205 22 47 87.1276.75E−11 tgr_PY05787 product_putative cell division cycle 1 1 3.9692.66E−09 ATPase_location_MALPY01892_3938_7174  _length_1079 tgr_PY00292product_Papain family cysteine 18 36 70.545 3.75E−09protease_putative_location_MALPY00082_7268_10921 + _length_1133tgr_PY02883 product_merozoite surface 10 20 37.951 9.73E−05 protein_9precursor_putative_location_MALPY00811_3609_5645  _length_679tgr_PY05999 product_octapeptide_repeatantigen_location_MALPY01986_761_2980  _length_740 9 15 31.953 5.02E−05tgr_PY03885 product_lactatedehydrogenase_location_MALPY01158_507_1457  _length_317 9 25 38.9222.21E−10 tgr_PY05748 product_merozoite surface protein 1 9 14 33.6987.54E−07 precursor_location_MALPY01871_991_6309  _length_1773tgr_PY00427product_3_nucleotidase/nuclease_location_MALPY00119_10126_11112  _length_3297 14 27.502 8.52E−05 tgr_PY00293 product_Papain family cysteine 7 1025.306 0.000569protease_putative_location_MALPY00082_12343_16499 + _length_1224tgr_PY04614 product_heat shock protein60_location_MALPY01423_3332_5272 + _length_580 6 8 20.313 4.49E−06tgr_PY02351product_Y13180 multicatalytic 5 10 19.382 3.76E−07endopeptidase_location_MALPY00643_11313_12796  _length_279 tgr_PY01759product_hypotheticalprotein_location_MALPY00474_2572_10368  _length_2599 3 4 8.462 1.93E−05tgr_PY06307product_hypotheticalprotein_location_MALPY02121_3570_5407  _length_415 3 6 11.238 1.98E−11tgr_PY03639 product_cell division cycle protein 48 3 4 11.588 0.000967homolog_location_MALPY01071_977_3580 + _length_816 tgr_PY04190product_proteasome subunit alpha 3 5 8.93 4.95E−05 Type6_B_location_MALPY01255_298_1500 + _length_261 tgr_PY03212product_proteasome 3 3 11.273 1.32E−05beta_subunit_putative_location_MALPY00917_16257_17084 + _length_276tgr_PY00275 product_hypotheticalprotein_location_MALPY00076_8839_9981  _length_381 2 3 7.002 0.000364tgr_PY06203 product_blood_stage membrane protein 2 3 6.878 0.000256Ag_1_location_MALPY02079_1480_3304  _length_550 tgr_PY03709product_Fructose_bisphosphate aldolase 2 3 5.899 0.000107class_I_location_MALPY01091_9881_11154 + _length_410 tgr_PY03625product_secreted blood_stage antigen 2 5 7.153 0.000172pAg_3_location_MALPY01062_3866_5117 + _length_355 tgr_PY06158product_heat shock protein 70_location_MALPY02061_6044_8092  _length_6832 5 7.282 3.55E−06 tgr_PY01014 product_retinitis pigmentosa GTPase 2 49.099 2.83E−06 regulator_likeprotein_location_MALPY00271_17200_19412  _length_675 tgr_PY06644product_enolase_location_MALPY02281_2234_3769 + _length_456 2 2 7.820.000551 tgr_PY00267 product_proteasome subunit alpha 2 4 6.468 2.06E−05type 1_location_MALPY00076_6844_7789 + _length_246 tgr_PY03280product_glyceraldehyde_3_phosphate 2 2 6.064 1.14E−06dehydrogenase_location_MALPY00935_13110_14374 + _length_338 tgr_PY00768product_26S proteasome subunit 4_like 1 2 4.212 3.48E−05protein_location_MALPY00207_17148_18892  _length_448 tgr_PY00622product_rhoptry associated protein1_location_MALPY00169_2382_4208  _length_609 1 2 3.592 3.04E−05tgr_PY06837 product_putative T_complex protein beta 1 1 3.733 9.08E−05subunit_location_MALPY02390_2164_4102 + _length_536 tgr_PY06834product_putative yir4protein_location_MALPY02388_4468_5607 + _length_315 1 1 3.588 0.00064tgr_PY06423 product_hypotheticalprotein_locaton_MALPY02180_138_4521  _length_1461 1 1 4.281 0.000742tgr_PY06767 product_proteosome PSMB5/8 1 2 4.167 1.31E−07protein_location_MALPY02351_3402_4355 + _length_288 tgr_PY04294product_hypothetical protein_location_MALPY01297_4689_6543 + _length_3651 2 3.763 0.000269 tgr_PY05295 product_hypotheticalprotein_location_MALPY01675_6685_9672  _length_792 1 2 4.502 5.97E−05tgr_PY03834 product_AhpC/TSAfamily_putative_location_MALPY01137_2824_4703  _length_423 1 2 5.3181.52E−12 Peptide Reference (Hits) Score P (pro) Plasmodiumgb|PVX_116515|organism = Plasmodium_vivax_Sal-1|product = hypothetical 2(2 0 0 2.02E+01 0.00014688 vivax protein, conserved|location = CM000453:1038825-1043220(−)|length = 1422 0 0) gb|PVX_082575|organism =Plasmodium_vivax_Sal-1|product = isoleucyl-tRNA 2 (0 2 0 1.61E+010.00037904 synthetase, putative|location = CM000453:827063-830683(+)|length = 1206 0 0) REVgb|PVX_122470|organism =Plasmodium_vivax_Sal-1|product = hypothetical 3 (1 0 2 2.22E+01 1.59E−05protein, conserved|location = CM000455: 598129-601995(+)|length = 1152 00) REVgb|PVX_084425|organism = Plasmodium_vivax_Sal-1|product =hypothetical 2 (1 1 0 1.82E+01 7.96E−05 protein, conserved|location =CM000454: 285733-288600(−)|length = 955 0 0) REVgb|PVX_087755|organism =Plasmodium_vivax_Sal-1|product = hypothetical 1 (1 0 0 1.02E+010.00057842 protein, conserved|location = CM000442:119705-124640(+)|length = 1640 0 0)

Example 5 Analysis of the Vir Protein the Ortologue of Yir ProteinIdentified in the Exosomes Derived from Reticulocites Infected withPlasmodium yoelli

One of the proteins identified in example 4 in Plasmodium yoelli wasprotein Yir. Yir are ortologues to Vir proteins from Plasmodium vivax(8). This example, provides data supporting that Vir proteins areimmunogenic in natural infections, antigenic upon immunizations of miceand capable of eliciting specific IgG immune responses recognizing P.vivax-infected reticulocytes from patients. This data also support thatexosomes derived from reticulocytes infected with Plasmodium sp. areindeed useful for the discovery of Plasmodium sp.

5.1. Vir Peptide Sequences and Bioplex Assay

According to MEME models previously used and reported by the inventorsin the issue describing the complete genome sequence of P. vivax (9),Vir proteins have an archetypical conserved motif organization. Motifs 1and 4 to 10 are predicted to be globular domains, motif 2 encodeshydrophobic amino acids typical of TM domains and motif 3 contains aPexel-like sequence (FIG. 9A). Based on these conserved motifs two longpeptides were designed, called Lp1 (SEQ ID NO 1) and Lp2 (SEQ ID NO 2).Lp1 contains the central core conserved motifs and Lp2 contains theC-terminus conserved motifs. These motifs are flanked by non immunogeniclinker sequences and the conserved order of the motifs is maintained inthe synthetic long peptides (FIG. 9B).

The sequence of Lp1 and Lp2 is represented as follows:

Lp1- (SEQ ID NO 1):VKELCKKLVRNLKKISCIYLNYWLYDQIKERKDLHDYEKNYDTIKCCEKYCTYVTYIKSLYEYDPKDLLSKLDC Lp2- (SEQ ID NO 2)IADSPGTLGTVHEELDSNEFRNIIMVVGVMMTFFELYKFTPVGAFFRGGRGRVHRIPRSFHGQFPGKRKGKIFEHNYYEEYEKELAMYGSEFLDSQMDRYYLNYQPDQDSYY

These peptides have been used in a Bioplex assay to check theirimmunogenity properties using sera from P. vivax patients from differentendemic regions. BioPlex carboxylated beads (Bio-Rad) were covalentlycoated with the two long peptides following the manufacturer'sinstructions (BioPlex Amine Coupling Kit). Coupled beads were analysedas described by Fernandez-Becerra et al., 2010 (9). Briefly, aliquots of50 μl, corresponding to 5,000 coated beads were used for each assay.Plasma samples were diluted 1:50 in assay buffer and 50 μl aliquotsadded to the beads (final plasma dilution 1:100). Aliquots of 50 μl ofBiotinylated human IgG antibody (Sigma) diluted 1:7500 and ofphycoerythrin conjugated streptavidin diluted to 2 μg/ml were used insubsequent incubations. Beads were re-suspended in 125 μl of assaybuffer (BioRad) and analysed on the BioPlex100 system and results wereexpressed as median fluorescent intensity (MFI).

Results from this example demonstrate that Vir proteins are immunogenicin natural infections as some sera specifically recognized these longpeptides (FIG. 10).

5.2 Vir Proteins are Antigenic and Capable of Eliciting AntibodiesReacting Against P. vivax-Infected Reticulocytes from NaturalInfections.

To carry out more extensive analysis of Vir antigenicity, two antiseraagainst these two peptides were generated in order to recognize Virprotein in natural isolates by immunofluorescence. Guinea pigs wereimmunized with these long peptides and anti-Lp1 and anti-Lp2 antiserawere obtained. To validate different sub-cellular localization of Virproteins in P. vivax wild isolates IFA assays with anti-Lp1 and anti-Lp2were done.

The anti-Lp1 and anti-Lp2 antisera were generated by immunizing guineapigs with peptides of SEQ ID NO 1 and SEQ ID NO 2. An aliquot of P.vivax infected red blood cells was washed once with incomplete RPMI andfixed as previously described (10). Fixed cells were permeabilized with0.1% Triton X-100 in PBS and blocked for one hour in 3% PBS-BSA. Slideswere incubated overnight with a guinea pig anti-Lp1 or anti-Lp2antibodies. The reaction was developed using an anti-Guinea Pig IgGconjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (Molecular Probes). Nuclei were stainedfor 10 minutes with DAPI (5 μl/ml diluted in PBS). Confocal microscopywas performed using a laser scanning confocal microscope (TCS-SP5; LeicaMicrosystems) and the images were processed using ImageJ image browsersoftware.

IFA assays of infected P. vivax patients (infection validated by PCR)showed a rim of fluorescence at the surface of the infected reticulocytewith a P. vivax ring stage (FIGS. 11A and 11B upper rows). In maturestages different stain patterns were found: close to the retyculocytesurface (FIG. 11A middle row) in the PVM and the surface of the infectedretyculocyte (FIG. 11A down row) and inside the parasite body and in theinfected retyculocyte cytosol (FIG. 11B down row).

Together this data show that Vir peptides are antigenic and capable ofeliciting antibodies reacting against natural P. vivax isolatesreinforcing their value as antigens for vaccine development.

Example 6 Preparation of Artificial Exosomes

Artificial exosomes containing peptides Lp1 and Lp2 were prepared withthe following liposomal composition:1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), Cholesterol 15 (CHOL),and 4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrylphosphatidylethanolamine (MBP-PE) in amolar ratio 79:20:1 and add 1 ug of the Vii peptides Lp1 and Lp2.

Lipids were dissolved and mixed in an organic solvent(chloroform:methanol, 2:1) to assure a homogenous mixture of lipids.Once lipids were mixed in the organic solvent, the solvent was removedto yield a lipid thin film on the sides of a round bottom flask byrotary evaporation. Remaining organic solvent traces were eliminated bydrying under N₂ flow for 30 min. In order to ensure the complete removalof chloroform, films were left overnight in desiccators. The dry lipidswere hydrated in PBS at 37° C.

Multilamellar liposomes were formed by 3 cycles of constant vortexingfor 4 min on a vortex mixer followed by sonication in a bath for 4 min.Multilamellar liposomes were downsized to form uni- or oligolamellarvesicles by extrusion through 100-nm polycarbonate membranes in anextruder device (LiposoFast; Avestin, Ottawa, Canada). Liposome size wasdetermined by dynamic light scattering using a Zetasizer NanoZS90(Malvern Ltd, Malvern, UK).

The presence of Lp1 and Lp2 in the artificial exosomes was checked byimmunolabelling with gold particles. Immunolabelling was performed withantibodies against LP1 and LP2 Vir peptides followed by Protein A-goldincubation. FIG. 12 reveals the presence of the peptides in theartificial exosomes.

This data demonstrates that exosomes containing malarial antigens canalso be synthetically obtained.

REFERENCES

-   1. Schorey J S and Bhatnagar S. Exosome function: from tumor    immunology to pathogen biology. Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark) 2008;    9: 871-881.-   2. Bhatnagar S, Shinagawa K, Castellino F J and Schorey J S.    Exosomes released from macrophages infected with intracellular    pathogens stimulate a proinflammatory response in vitro and in vivo.    Blood 2007; 110: 3234-3244.-   3. Viaud S, Ullrich E, Zitvogel L and Chaput N. Exosomes for the    treatment of human malignancies. Horm Metab Res 2008; 40: 82-88.-   4. Ribaut C, Berry A, Chevalley S et al., Concentration and    purification by magnetic separation of the erythrocytic stages of    all human Plasmodium species. Malaria journal 2008; 7: 45.-   5. Stone K L and Williams K R. In The protein protocol handbook, ed.    Walker J M, Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press Inc.; 1996.-   6. Jurado J D, Rael E D, Lieb C S et al. Complement inactivating    proteins and intraspecies venom variation in Crotalus oreganus    helleri. Toxicon 2007; 49: 339-350.-   7. Elias J E and Gygi S P. Target-decoy search strategy for    increased confidence in large-scale protein identifications by mass    spectrometry. Nat Methods 2007; 4: 207-214.-   8. del Portillo H A, Fernandez-Becerra C, Bowman S et al. A    superfamily of variant genes encoded in the subtelomeric region of    Plasmodium vivax. Nature 2001; 410: 839-842.-   9. Carlton J M, Adams J H, Silva J C et al. Comparative genomics of    the neglected human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. Nature 2008;    455: 757-763.-   10. Tonkin C J, van Dooren G G, Spurck T P et al. Localization of    organellar proteins in Plasmodium falciparum using a novel set of    transfection vectors and a new immunofluorescence fixation method.    Mol Biochem Parasitol 2004; 137: 13-21.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An isolated peptide comprising the aminoacid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO 1 or a sequence comprising at least85% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO
 1. 2. Anisolated peptide comprising the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ IDNO 2 or a sequence comprising at least 85% sequence identity to theamino acid sequence SEQ ID NO
 2. 3. An artificial exosome comprising atleast one Plasmodium sp. antigen in its interior or on its surface,wherein the Plasmodium sp. antigen is a peptide comprising the aminoacid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO 1 or 2, and/or a sequencecomprising at least 85% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence setforth as SEQ ID NO 1 or
 2. 4. A pharmaceutical composition comprising anexosome comprising at least one Plasmodium sp. antigen in its interioror on its surface, wherein the Plasmodium sp. antigen is a peptidecomprising the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO 1 or 2, and/ora sequence comprising at least 85% sequence identity to the amino acidsequence set forth as SEQ ID NO 1 or 2.